Chapter 462

Chapter 462 – Everyone Has a Reason They Cannot Retreat (3)

Cho Yeon-woon's entire body was dyed red with blood.

He didn't know how many Demon Cult martial artists he'd killed.

He truly gave his best. He fought more fiercely than anyone to save even one more person. But no matter how much he killed and killed again, Demon Cult martial artists swarmed endlessly like ants crawling from an anthill.

His heart grew weary before his stamina. But Cho Yeon-woon gritted his teeth deploying Eight Desolations Divine Fist.

That was when. A young monk ran up calling him. Abbot Gwang-cheon summoned him. Cho Yeon-woon eventually withdrew going to Gwang-cheon.

When Cho Yeon-woon arrived, familiar faces surrounded Gwang-cheon. So Cheon, Cheong-un, Hae So-wol, and even young martial artists belonging to the Martial Alliance. They were all young talents currently promising in the martial world.

Gwang-cheon looked at Cho Yeon-woon and spoke.

"Amitabha! You've come?"

"Abbot."

"I'm sorry. Because I didn't listen to your words, the situation became this way. Probably even falling into hell's fire pit repenting thousands of years won't wash away this sin."

At Gwang-cheon's expression as if he'd lost the entire world, Cho Yeon-woon couldn't say anything.

Gwang-cheon's words continued.

"Amitabha! We will die fighting them here. But you shouldn't."

"What do you mean?"

"We'll buy time, so lead the young martial artists and Martial Alliance members escaping Mount Song."

"Abbot!"

"So Cheon knows a secret escape route. Follow him. That's the only way to preserve remaining forces intact."

Cho Yeon-woon bit his lips hard until they bled. Because he knew well what feelings prompted Gwang-cheon's words.

"I… understand."

He barely answered looking around.

The young martial artists' expressions were extremely sorrowful. Among them, the most sorrowful was precisely So Cheon with ties to Shaolin Temple.

So Cheon had lived his entire life at Shaolin Temple. Shaolin was no different from everything to him. Thinking he must escape abandoning such a place felt heart-wrenching.

If only following his heart, he too wanted to die fighting here. But he couldn't. If even he fell, Shaolin's numerous unique techniques would certainly disappear into history.

He had responsibility to preserve Shaolin's unique techniques and protect still-surviving disciples. That was the only thing Gwang-cheon wished from him.

Still young monks and novices looked only at him. So Cheon had no choice but to become cold.

"Amitabha! Follow me. From now on I'll guide."

So Cheon deliberately turned coldly. But inside his chest, tears of blood flowed. Shaolin Temple disciples following him also shed tears of blood.

'Will definitely return.'

'Will certainly return here. Just temporarily leaving until then.'

They vowed and vowed again.

With eye greetings to Gwang-cheon, they moved forward. Behind them followed young talents from various sects and Martial Alliance martial artists.

Gwang-cheon said to Cho Yeon-woon walking away last.

"Please take good care of our children. Great Hero Cho."

"I will definitely protect them."

"Where do you plan to go?"

"Will go to Mount Hua."

"Amitabha! The martial world owes them great debt. When they faced crisis, we helped nothing. Tell Mount Hua Sect Leader. This debt will be repaid even after death."

"Will certainly convey that."

"Thank you! Please hurry and go."

Gwang-cheon turned first.

Kwakwakwa!

Buddha Light Illuminates Heaven Sweeping Demons Great Absolute Formation was shaking.

Gwang-cheon moved forward into it fluttering red kasaya. So Cheon and Shaolin Temple disciples suddenly turned their heads capturing his retreating back.

Shaolin Temple's Abbot, the entire martial world's spiritual pillar walked toward death himself.

They shed tears of blood deeply engraving that image in their chests.

'Will never forget.'

'Definitely, definitely will return here.'

They vowed and vowed again moving forward.

"Huu!"

Cho Yeon-woon sighed watching them from behind.

He'd known it would become like this. So he'd advocated retreat to Gwang-cheon and Shaolin Temple leadership. But they rejected Cho Yeon-woon's opinion, ultimately facing worst situation.

'If I'd advocated more strongly, would the situation have changed?'

Knowing it was useless hypothetical, but because his heart felt too heavy, regret surged.

That was when.

"Don't blame yourself too much, Brother Cho."

Cheong-un approached comforting him. At that Cho Yeon-woon nodded. Like his words, now wasn't time for self-blame. Somehow he must make these people safely escape from here.

Cho Yeon-woon called Hae So-wol.

"Miss Hae."

"Yes?"

"How's your condition?"

"The best."

"Fortunate. Then Miss Hae take Hainan Sect disciples and go down first checking for ambush."

"Alright."

"And Brother Cheong-un."

"Yes?"

"Take Qingcheng Sect disciples and look after wounded. Not even one straggler must be left here."

"Will follow orders."

Hae So-wol and Cheong-un saluted Cho Yeon-woon and withdrew.

Cho Yeon-woon called several more people giving orders afterward. Young martial artists and heroes followed his orders without complaint.

No feelings of jealousy or envy existed.

Cho Yeon-woon had shown too much for them to have jealous feelings. In people's minds, Cho Yeon-woon was a star shining brilliantly in troubled times.

A hero troubled times birthed. Everyone followed him as one heart as if enchanted. But the party giving orders, Cho Yeon-woon's chest felt stifled like a large rock was placed on it.

The destiny placed on both his shoulders was too heavy. If only possible, he wanted to lighten this burden sharing with someone.

'My friend!'

He missed Dam Ho.

But soon he shook his head erasing thoughts.

Nothing changed from longing for someone not here. Now was time to focus only on the situation before his eyes.

***

Halls that endured thousand years were burning.

Four Heavenly Kings statues wrapped in red flames were collapsing powerlessly. Gold-plated Buddha statues were melting in flames.

Hell Fire burned everything. Like insatiable hungry ghosts endlessly devouring, it greedily devoured everything of thousand-year Shaolin.

Sang Han-cheon and Four Great Commanders watched that scene silently. Mixed emotions crossed their faces.

The Central Plains martial world's Mount Tai and North Star, Shaolin Temple.

The impregnable giant that reigned at the martial world's peak for thousand years blocking the Demon Cult's progress was falling to flames.

"Finally…"

"Brought it down."

The fact they'd brought down Shaolin Temple by none other than their own power stirred their emotions.

Shaolin Temple's monks were truly tenacious. They tenaciously clung to Demon Cult martial artists until the last person. Therefore Demon Cult damage was also tremendous. Far more people died or got injured than Sang Han-cheon expected. Therefore his heart felt extremely heavy.

That was when.

"Like darkness cannot cover the sun forever, the demon path will never defeat the righteous path. Though darkness may seem victorious right now, tomorrow's sun rising cannot be stopped."

A low voice echoed in their ears.

Everyone's gaze went toward the voice's owner.

A bloodied old monk looked at them leaning against a large tree. The old monk looking at them with left arm severed and both knees crushed was precisely Shaolin Temple's Abbot Gwang-cheon.

Life Death Magistrate Jang Mu-gyeong emanated killing intent.

"Still breathing? Monk."

"Buddha's… grace existed it seems."

"Hmph! That damned Buddha won't save an old monk's life?"

"Haha! Being born human, how can one… defy heaven's will? In fact Buddha is… beckoning me to just hold on this much and come."

Gwang-cheon burst out laughing. But no living vitality existed in his laughter.

Two among Four Great Commanders jointly attacked. No matter how much Gwang-cheon was a master, he couldn't face two people. Eventually he fell miserably, barely holding on with just a handful of remaining internal energy.

Countless people died.

Shaolin disciples following him, martial artists who entered the Martial Alliance to protect the martial world. Besides them, countless people died.

The Buddhist holy ground full of incense held only blood stench. The blood scent carved into Mount Song wouldn't erase even after generations passed. Still, Gwang-cheon could smile because Shaolin's lineage didn't completely sever.

Though immediate decline was unavoidable, Shaolin would rise again.

'So Cheon will certainly splendidly revive Shaolin.'

So he could die smiling.

Because his death would become excellent fertilizer reviving Shaolin Temple later.

Thus Gwang-cheon died.

Watching Gwang-cheon die peacefully, Sang Han-cheon's eyes gleamed.

"One who cannot promise the future can never die smiling like that. Monk, you withdrew forces."

Sang Han-cheon immediately realized why Gwang-cheon died smiling. He'd already been thinking enemy forces were fewer than expected.

Impatient Gang Wi asked.

"Then Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance withdrew forces?"

"That's right."

"Using such tricks."

Gang Wi ground his teeth.

Many masters Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance boasted died at his hands. Though his entire body was dyed in blood, his anger and thirst hadn't resolved yet. His thirst was the kind that could only be resolved by hunting down the last person delivering judgment's hammer.

Beside Gang Wi, Life Death Magistrate Jang Mu-gyeong raised his voice.

"Come to think of it, that young Azure Dragon Divine Hero wasn't seen, nor Shaolin Temple's hope So Cheon. Must pursue immediately eliminating future troubles."

"That's right. They'll certainly become big future troubles. Must eliminate them this opportunity."

"Two people lead subordinates pursuing."

When Sang Han-cheon permitted, Gang Wi and Jang Mu-gyeong led subordinate forces starting pursuit.

Yo Sa-ran watching that scene opened her mouth.

"We are already victorious, is this really necessary?"

"Small remaining embers come alive again burning all vegetation completely. So fire must be extinguished certainly."

"But…"

"Lady Yo has also become quite softhearted. Is Fist Demon's aftereffects that great?"

Sang Han-cheon looked at Yo Sa-ran with cold eyes. At that, Yo Sa-ran had no choice but to shut her lips tight.

The atmosphere wasn't one she alone could oppose. Demon Cult martial artists were intoxicated with victory. Whatever she said to such people clearly wouldn't get through.

'Huu!'

She had no choice but to sigh secretly.

She couldn't know exactly how many people died at Mount Song. But at minimum several thousand martial artists certainly lost their lives. The blood they shed seemed to dye Shaolin's sky red.

Then a middle-aged beauty approached Sang Han-cheon speaking.

"Military Strategist! Congratulations on great victory."

"Thank you, Demon Mother."

"All this is thanks to Military Strategist's excellent insight and ability. The Cult Leader will also greatly commend Military Strategist's achievement."

"Just did what should naturally be done."

"Our work isn't finished yet. Must erect an altar here. As soon as fire extinguishes, will erect the world's largest altar here conducting rituals."

"Everything will be as Demon Mother wishes."

"Thank you."

After thanking Sang Han-cheon, Dan Un-hyang looked at Shaolin Temple engulfed in hellfire with cold eyes.

Shaolin Temple was now crumbling becoming a handful of ash. Halls, stone statues, stupa groves all became white ash disappearing from the world.

'We will erect an altar there. We will erect the largest and most splendid altar under heaven proclaiming our cult's majesty to all. Now no one can dare call our cult "Demon Cult".'

Middle Heaven's martial artists following her were already preparing to erect the altar.

Originally conducting rituals required sacrifices, but this time wasn't necessary. Because sacrifices had already been offered.

Evil energy faintly rippled in Dan Un-hyang's eyes, but no one noticed that fact.